It will be very interesting to see how the Red Wings respond to Ribero's boneheaded play in Game 3, especially since Osgood provoked the incident with the butt-end. They haven't exactly been known as a team that looks for on-ice vengeance over the past couple of years. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but when Chris Pronger nailed Tomas Holmstrom's head into the boards during last year's playoffs, the Wings really didn't place a target on Pronger's (or any Ducks) back in that series. Granted, the way they have played in the series thus far, they don't need to resort to such tactics to light a fire under themselves -- they have this thing pretty much in hand. Couple that with the Wings' recent pedigree, and I don't see this series elevating to anything more than a tad bit chippier.

Calling Ribero gutless is wrong. Asking for him to get a 20 game suspension is wrong. Let’s take his action in context. The game was in had for the Redwings and shortly after the horn sounds Ribero takes a swing at Osgood.

Rewind the tape just a little further. Osgood takes an obvious shot at Ribero on the way by and strikes him in the face. After being hit takes the biggest dive of the playoffs. Case and point, watch the tape, when Osgood gets hit he falls into the hit rather than away from it. That proves that the hit first, didn’t have that great an impact and second, didn’t remotely cause an injury.

I in no way condone Ribero’s actions. The action will tarnish a wonderful playoff season for him and is deserving of a suspension. The Detroit players have every right to exact a measure of justice against Ribero, but Osgood should not go unnoticed for his role in this event. While largely unseen Osgood’s action had the potential to cause greater damage to Ribero. I will concede that Osgood’s intent was not to injure, if you concede that Ribero’s was not either. In no way did Ribero intend to injure a goalie by hitting him with a stick in the chest protector. Ribero just let him know that he took exception to a cheap shot taken by Osgood. Osgood takes no shot at Ribero and this incident never happens. But, like most of the time in hockey only the retaliation gets noticed.

I Think more than it was Mike Riberos fault it was the Osgood took a little dive there, but yes i think it will add heat to this although i think in heat matters it will be the Stars who have to upper hand..... for more on my oppinion on this matter read my blog entry "Osgood....Oscar Dive"

Ribeiro isn't allowed to get back at Osgood with a good clean hit or fight him. And it wouldn't be a fair fight anyway, with all the equipment that Osgood's got on.

Yes, if he caught him higher - like in the mask - it would have been a sure suspension, a big one. But calling for a 40-game suspension on a half-assed whack to the chest protector is absolutely ridiculous! Maybe the NHL should ban slapshots from inside the blueline too.